Sciatica Treatment in Los Gatos
At On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic in Los Gatos, Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC, provides non invasive, medication free care for people dealing with sciatica and stubborn leg pain. Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve gets irritated or compressed, usually in the lower back, and it can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels down the leg.
Dr. Kleinberg looks beyond “just the leg” and focuses on what is happening in your spine, discs, and nerves. His approach blends full spine chiropractic care with focused disc and nerve work, often including decompression when it fits the case. If you are searching for sciatica treatment in Los Gatos and want a clear plan instead of guesswork, booking an evaluation is the first move.
Sciatica Nerve Leg Pain
Sciatica can feel like your leg is not even yours anymore. People describe it as burning, stabbing, zapping, or a deep ache that runs from the low back into the butt, thigh, calf, or even the foot. It can flare with sitting, standing, driving, or rolling over in bed, and it can make simple things like putting on socks or getting out of the car way more dramatic than they need to be.
For some, the pain bounces between the back and the leg. For others, the back barely hurts but the leg is screaming. Long commutes, desk work, or lifting something the wrong way are common triggers. The longer the sciatic nerve is irritated, the more your body starts to compensate and move weirdly to protect it. Early evaluation with a chiropractor for sciatica can help calm that irritation and protect long term nerve health.
How Sciatica Affects Daily Life
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body. It starts from nerves in the lower spine, passes through the hips and buttocks, and runs down the back of each leg. When everything is working well, it quietly carries signals for movement and sensation between your brain and your legs.
“Sciatica” is not a single diagnosis. It is a name for a cluster of symptoms that happen when the sciatic nerve gets irritated or compressed somewhere along its path, most often in the lower back where the nerves leave the spine. That irritation can come from a disc problem, joint inflammation, muscle spasm, or narrowing of the spaces the nerves travel through.
So when you say “I have sciatica,” what you really mean is “my sciatic nerve is not happy.” The job in this clinic is to figure out why, and where, and then create a plan to reduce that pressure and help the nerve calm down.
Common Symptoms of Sciatica
Typical sciatica symptoms Dr. Kleinberg sees in the office include:
- Shooting or burning pain down the leg: Pain may start in the low back or butt and travel into the thigh, calf, or foot.
- Tingling, numbness, or pins and needles: Changes in sensation along the nerve path, sometimes in specific toes or parts of the foot.
- Weakness or heaviness in the leg: The leg may feel unreliable, like it could give out or drag a bit.
- Pain that worsens with sitting or driving: Long periods in a chair or car can increase pressure on discs and nerves.
- Pain with bending, coughing, or sneezing: Sudden spikes in pressure can light the nerve up.
- Electric shock sensations: Quick, sharp jolts that shoot down the leg with certain movements.
- Trouble sleeping comfortably: Changing positions at night can trigger the nerve and wake you up.
If you are feeling any combo of these, your sciatic nerve is trying to get your attention.
Structural and Lifestyle Causes of Sciatic Nerve Irritation
Sciatica is a symptom, not a standalone problem. Dr. Kleinberg focuses on the root cause, which is usually in the spine and discs, not just the leg. Common drivers include:
- Herniated or bulging disc: The soft center of a disc can push outward and pinch a nerve root that becomes part of the sciatic nerve.
- Degenerative disc changes: Over time, discs can thin and joints can decay, shrinking the openings where nerves exit and increasing pressure.
- Spinal misalignment and poor mechanics: When the spine loses its normal curves, certain areas carry too much load, which can lead to disc and nerve irritation.
- Muscle spasm around the hip or piriformis: Tight muscles can add extra pressure where the nerve passes through the buttock.
- Posture strain and prolonged sitting: Hours at a desk or behind the wheel can overload the lower spine and discs.
- Old injuries that never fully healed: Past falls, car accidents, or lifting injuries can set the stage for future sciatic flare ups.
The key is to map out which of these is actually happening in your body before jumping into care.
Sciatica Treatment Options
Sciatica treatment in Los Gatos at On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic is centered on conservative, non surgical, medication free care. For nerve and disc based leg pain, Dr. Kleinberg often uses a combination of:
- Full spine chiropractic adjustments: Gentle, precise adjustments help restore better alignment and motion so the spine can distribute pressure more evenly, taking stress off irritated nerves.
- Non surgical spinal decompression: On a DRX 9000 style decompression table, the low back is gently stretched in cycles to lower disc pressure and create a pumping effect. This can help bulging or herniated disc material move away from the nerve and support rehydration of the disc.
- Corrective care plans: Instead of “come when it hurts,” plans are structured over weeks, often with visits several times per week at first, then re checks and follow up imaging as needed to track progress.
- Home strategies and posture coaching: Simple changes like how you sit, stand, and move, plus realistic walking and stretching routines, support what happens in the office so you are not recreating the same problem every day.
Everything is tailored to your age, severity, and comfort level. No forced twisting or one size fits all scripts.
Timeline for Sciatica Recovery
Healing timelines are different for everyone, but there are some patterns Dr. Kleinberg sees a lot. For many sciatica patients who are good candidates for decompression and chiropractic care:
- Some notice changes within the first few sessions, often within the first two weeks. That might look like less intense leg pain, fewer “electric shocks,” or an easier time getting out of bed.
- More noticeable, steady improvement usually builds over four to eight weeks with consistent visits and basic home care.
- Deeper disc and nerve healing keeps happening even after the formal plan wraps up, especially if you stay on top of posture and maintenance care.
Timelines depend on how long the nerve has been irritated, how damaged the disc or joints are, your overall health, and how consistently you stick to the plan. There are no guaranteed results, but there is a clear structure and regular progress checks so you are never guessing.
Long-Term Consequences of Untreated Sciatica
Letting sciatica ride for months or years is not just about “toughing it out.” When nerve irritation is constant, your body can start to adapt in ways that are not helpful. You may shift your weight, hike a hip, or twist your spine to avoid pain, which can stress other joints like the hips, knees, or opposite side of your back.
Over time, ongoing pressure on the nerve can lead to more frequent or intense flare ups, persistent numbness or tingling, and in some cases weakness that affects how you walk, stand, or use the leg. Disc and joint changes can progress, limiting your options later.
It also messes with daily life. Driving, working, sleeping, parenting, or staying active all get harder when you have to constantly negotiate with leg pain. Getting checked early gives you more options and a better shot at long term sciatic nerve pain relief.
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FAQs - Sciatica Treatment
Q: Can a chiropractor help with sciatica pain?
A: Yes. A chiropractor for sciatica focuses on improving spinal alignment and motion, reducing disc and nerve pressure, and calming irritation. At this clinic, that often means a mix of full spine adjustments and non surgical spinal decompression when the case calls for it.
Q: How long will recovery take?
A: It depends on how long you have had symptoms, how severe they are, and what is driving them. Some people feel early changes within a few visits. Deeper, more lasting improvement usually takes several weeks of consistent care and simple home strategies.
Q: Do I need an MRI before starting care?
A: Not always. Many sciatica cases can be evaluated with history, exam, and digital X rays, plus any imaging you already have. If there are red flags or if your case does not respond as expected, an MRI may be recommended through your medical provider to look directly at the discs and nerves.
Q: What can I do at home right now?
A: Often, short walks are better than long stretches of sitting or bed rest. Using cold packs early in a flare and gentle heat later can help, as long as it feels comfortable. Paying attention to posture and taking movement breaks during desk work or driving is also huge. Your specific plan will come after an exam.
Q: Is this just part of getting older?
A: Age can play a role, but Dr. Kleinberg talks more about physics than birthdays. It is the way your spine is loading and moving over time that tends to drive disc and nerve problems. Change the physics and you can often change how things feel and function, regardless of age.
